Cypress names VP to head up data com expansion efforts

SAN JOSE--Cypress Semiconductor Corp. today named a former manager with Micron Technology Inc.'s Rendition Corp. subsidiary to head up its Data Communications Division and help expand activities in high-speed networking applications.

As vice president of the Data Communications Division, Dan Morris will be responsible for FIFO products, dual-port memories, Cypress' RoboClock programmable-skew clocking chips and high-speed physical layer technology. He is also heading up Cypress' efforts to become a broader supplier of networking products, reporting directly to T.J. Rodgers, president and CEO of the San Jose company.

During the summer, Cypress acquired Arcus Technology Inc., a privately held supplier of intellectual property (IP) for data communications and telecom networks. The $20 million acquisition was aimed at moving Cypress further into the wide-area networks (WAN) (see June 30 story).

Cypress estimates that more than two-thirds of its products now go to telecom and data com system makers. The Arcus acquisition moves Cypress beyond the physical layer of networks and adds protocol and logic-based technology for high-speed communications.

"With the recent product introductions and the Arcus acquisition, we have significantly expanded our communications group," said CEO Rodgers. "Dan Morris has the right background and mindset to lead Cypress through this exciting period."

Prior to working at Micron's Rendition subsidiary, Morris was with Integrated Device Technology Inc., where he served as vice president of IDT's Logic, SRAM, FIFO, and ATM divisions. In addition, he has held various engineering management positions at Atari Computer Corp., Hughes Aircraft, Commodore Semiconductor, National Semiconductor, Intersil, and ITT.